What can I do with my major?

You may have come to your academic major simply because you find the related courses quite fascinating. You simply enjoy studying Art History, or Psychology, or Biology! This is not at all a bad way to choose a major because it probably means that you will find your related career field quite interesting, too. But the nagging question becomes: What can I do with this major after I complete my degree?

The fact of the matter is that many academic majors - especially in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, but also in the Physical Sciences - are not training you for one specific and identified career path. A Nursing major will likely become a nurse, an Accounting major will likely become an accountant, but what does a Humanities major become? A Humanitarian? Maybe - but don't expected to get paid for such a gig. So what else can a Humanities major do for a career? Well, I am a Humanities major and I am a student development advisor, a writer, a visual artist, and a coordinator with educational and environmental non-profit organizations.

So if you love what you are studying, but are not quite sure what you are going to do once you graduate, don't despair. Your future may not be specifically defined for you, but instead you have many potential options. Check out this great resource created by the Career Development Center to connect your major to different career paths. Then develop your career skills and marketability through volunteer experiences, internships, student organizations, and other student development activities.